Here’s some happenings in and around Ithaca of the free, low-cost, educational, and musical variety to nourish your mind and spirit this weekend. If there’s a “doors time/music time” listed, we use the music time as the start in our listings.

Learn How You Can Support TruthSayers’ Independent, No Holds Barred Reporting on Topics That Matter to You, Like:

Ithaca City Schools
What’s Going On With That Drug Plan?
How Do Our Police Work?

Save the Date!

March 27, 2019: 7 – 8:30 p.m. at the Tompkins County Workers’ Center

Learn how to use Freedom of Information laws to unlock troves of government secrets, learn how officials make decisions behind closed doors, and review records that personally affect you, like police reports and environmental property reviews. RSVP Here.

Featured photo: St. Patrick’s Day parade in Dublin, 2010. Via Wikimedia.

]]>http://www.truthsayers.org/2019/03/14/march-15-17-10-and-under-weekend-planner-music-dance-food-free-happenings/feed/0Raise Hell, Make Laws: March 11-16 Tompkins County Government Meetingshttp://www.truthsayers.org/2019/03/11/raise-hell-make-laws-march-11-16-tompkins-county-government-meetings/
http://www.truthsayers.org/2019/03/11/raise-hell-make-laws-march-11-16-tompkins-county-government-meetings/#respondMon, 11 Mar 2019 17:44:12 +0000http://www.truthsayers.org/?p=3448Continue Reading "Raise Hell, Make Laws: March 11-16 Tompkins County Government Meetings"→]]>This week: Auditing 2018 Industrial Development Agency activities; putting a nepotism policy for a hire in the sheriff’s office; and the T-burg South Street development is asking for zoning variances. All that and more in your weekly government planner.

Do you want to know what your local government is doing? Do you want to tell your local government to do something else? Here are your opportunities in Tompkins County this week.

If you would like to help TruthSayers cover more issues that matter, if you are at a meeting, be a reporter! Send us recordings, photographs, or notes, and TruthSayers will publish them while crediting you!

Email josh.brokaw@truthsayers.org with stories and tips.

Let’s put every government action we can on the public record.

Hyperlinks go to the meeting agenda for further information, if available. County meetings are at the top, then the city of Ithaca, then towns in descending alphabetical order by name, then villages in the same arrangement. If we can find a monthly schedule, but no immediate agenda, we try and note that you should contact your local agency to confirm. School board agendas now available, if you scroll all the way down! If you see a meeting missing from this list, email josh.brokaw@truthsayers.org

Learn How You Can Support TruthSayers’ Independent, No Holds Barred Reporting on Topics That Matter to You, Like:

Ithaca City Schools

What’s Going On With That City Drug Plan?

Why Do Our Police Do What They Do?

Tompkins County

Friday, March 15

The Budget, Capital and Personnel committee meets at 9 a.m. at 121 E. Court St. The agenda includes: a presentation by TC3, adjustment of the 2019 sales tax distribution, loaning $500,000 to the History Center to complete renovations at the new building, and approving a “nepotism and compliance plan regarding employment of relatives” for employment of an immediate family member in the Sheriff’s Office.

Tompkins County Industrial Development Agency

Wednesday, March 13

The Tompkins County Industrial Development Agency meets at 2:30 p.m. at 121 E. Court St. On the agenda: authorizing the 2018 audit of IDA activities.

City of Ithaca

Monday, March 11

The Parks, Recreation, & Natural Resources commission meets at 6 p.m. on the third floor of City Hall. On the agenda is an update on deer management, and discussion of park signage and memorial policies.

Tuesday, March 12

The Economic Development committee of the Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency meets at 3:30 p.m. at City Hall. A request from GreenStar for loan assistance to build the new West End store is on the agenda.

The Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission meets at 5:30 p.m. on the third floor of City Hall. A public hearing on replacing windows at 208 Dearborn Place is on the agenda, along with design guidance for a new project at 214 Eddy St. and discussion of the Ithaca Gun smokestack.

Wednesday, March 13

The Planning and Economic Development committee, made of Common Council members, meets at 6 p.m. in City Hall. The agenda includes a public hearing on the new Southside neighborhood plan; voting on new ‘special unit’ rules and the Carpenter Business Park planned unit development, extending the agreement to load intercity buses on Green St. for another six months, and a discussion of Tompkins County buying property at Tioga & Sears streets.

The Planning & Development Board Project Review & Design Review committee meets at 9 a.m. on the third floor of City Hall, with new buildings at 815-817 N. Aurora and 402 Wood streets; the ‘Arthaus’ housing development planned for Cherry St. at the current site of AJ Foreign Auto; signs for City Centre and the Hilton Canopy; and the Cornell North Campus expansion all on the agenda.

Save the Date!

March 27, 2019: 7 – 8:30 p.m. at the Tompkins County Workers’ Center

Join TruthSayers’ founding editor Josh Brokaw for a workshop we call “Information Freedom 101.” Learn how to use Freedom of Information laws to unlock troves of government secrets, learn how officials make decisions behind closed doors, and review records that personally affect you, like police reports and environmental property reviews. RSVP Here.

Town of Caroline

Tuesday, March 12

The Watershed committee meets at 7 p.m. at the Town Hall, 2670 Slaterville Road.

Wednesday, March 13

The Town Board business meeting is happening at the Town Hall, 2670 Slaterville Road, at 7 p.m. On the agenda is an update on “age-friendly communities,” and a presentation on the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act.

Town of Danby

The Conservation Advisory Council meets at the Danby Gathery, 1774 Danby Road, at 7 p.m.

Town of Dryden

Tuesday, March 12

The Emergency Services committee meets at 7 p.m. at the Dryden Town Hall, 93 E. Main St.

Wednesday, March 13

The Dryden Ag Advisory committee meets at 7:30 p.m. at the Town Hall, 93 E. Main St.

Thursday, March 14

The Dryden Town Board will meet at 7 p.m. at the Town Hall, 93 E. Main St. Documents to be reviewed at board meetings can be found here.

Town of Enfield

Wednesday, March 13

The Enfield Town Board meets at 6:30 p.m. at the Enfield Community Building, 182 Enfield Main Road, with an update on a clean energy communities grant, a grant for salt storage, and speed limit reduction policy on the agenda.

Town of Groton

Tuesday, March 12

The Groton Town Board is scheduled to meet at 7:30 p.m. at the Town Hall, 103 Conger Boulevard. The agenda includes: discussion on a flood plain management fee, and presentations from Advantage Solar and the McLean Fire Dept.

Town of Ithaca

Monday, March 11

The Ithaca Town Board meets at 215 N. Tioga St. at 5:30 p.m., with a public hearing scheduled on water improvements on Winthrop Drive. Considering a bond to expand the Public Works facility is also on the agenda.

Wednesday, February 13

The Codes and Ordinances committee meets at 5:30 p.m. at the Town Hall, 215 N. Tioga St. Continued discussion on the town noise ordinance is on the agenda.

Town of Lansing

Monday, March 11

The Lansing Planning Board meets at 6:30 p.m. at 29 Auburn Road. On the agenda: a subdivision hearing on Algerine Road; continued hearing on a bed & breakfast at 59 Emmons Rd., and discussion on a barn event center 1487 Ridge Road.

Town of Newfield

Wednesday, March 13

The Recreation Advisory Board meets at the Town Hall, 166 Main St., at 7 p.m.

Thursday, March 14

The Newfield Town Board will meet at the Town Hall, 166 Main St., at 7 p.m. Agenda will be here when available.

Town of Ulysses

Tuesday, March 12

The Ulysses Town Board meets at 7 p.m. at the Town Hall, 10 Elm St. On the agenda is changing EMS billing policies, the county contract for youth services, and more.

Village of Cayuga Heights

No meetings scheduled.

Village of Dryden

No meetings scheduled.

Village of Freeville

Wednesday, March 13

The first planning session on the 2019-20 village budget will be held at 7:30 p.m. at the Village Hall, 5 Factory St.

Village of Groton

No meetings scheduled.

Village of Lansing

Monday, March 11

The Lansing Planning Board meets at 7 p.m. at the Village Office, 2405 N. Triphammer Road. On the agenda is continuing public hearings on the new Maguire Nissan on Cinema Dr. and on putting in a 4-person tram at 1510 East Shore Dr.

Village of Trumansburg

Tuesday, March 12

The Board of Zoning Appeals meets at 6 p.m. at 56 E. Main St. to consider an appeal by Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services and Sundial for variances at 46 South St., along with a variance for a property at 50.5 Cayuga St.

Dryden Central School District

No meetings scheduled.

Ithaca City School District

Tuesday, March 12

The full ICSD Board of Education meets for its voting meeting at 400 Lake St., with public session at 7 p.m. Here’s the agenda, with a budget presentation on the agenda.

Here’s some happenings in and around Ithaca of the free, low-cost, educational, and musical variety to nourish your mind and spirit this weekend. If there’s a “doors time/music time” listed, we use the music time as the start in our listings.

Learn How You Can Support TruthSayers’ Independent, No Holds Barred Reporting on Topics That Matter to You, Like:

Ithaca City Schools
What’s Going On With That Drug Plan?
How Do Our Police Work?

Save the Date!

March 27, 2019: 7 – 8:30 p.m. at the Tompkins County Workers’ Center

Learn how to use Freedom of Information laws to unlock troves of government secrets, learn how officials make decisions behind closed doors, and review records that personally affect you, like police reports and environmental property reviews. RSVP Here.

]]>http://www.truthsayers.org/2019/03/07/march-8-10-10-and-under-weekend-planner-music-dance-food-free-happenings/feed/0Raise Hell, Make Laws: March 4-8 Tompkins County Government Meetingshttp://www.truthsayers.org/2019/03/04/raise-hell-make-laws-march-4-8-tompkins-county-government-meetings/
http://www.truthsayers.org/2019/03/04/raise-hell-make-laws-march-4-8-tompkins-county-government-meetings/#respondMon, 04 Mar 2019 20:00:16 +0000http://www.truthsayers.org/?p=3413Continue Reading "Raise Hell, Make Laws: March 4-8 Tompkins County Government Meetings"→]]>This week: Tompkins County is asking New York State nicely to be allowed to fund and manage affordable housing. The city is planning on adding financial penalties for landlords that continue to rent out condemned buildings. And Lansing is still debating whether the Rod & Gun Club is allowed to expand. That and more in your local government planner.

Do you want to know what your local government is doing? Do you want to tell your local government to do something else? Here are your opportunities in Tompkins County this week.

If you would like to help TruthSayers cover more issues that matter, if you are at a meeting, be a reporter. Send us recordings, photographs, or notes, and TruthSayers will publish them while crediting you. Email josh.brokaw@truthsayers.org with stories and tips.

Let’s put every government action we can on the public record. Hyperlinks go to the meeting agenda for further information, if available. County meetings are at the top, then the city of Ithaca, then towns in descending alphabetical order by name, then villages and school boards in the same arrangement. If you see a meeting missing from this list, email josh.brokaw@truthsayers.org.

Save the Date!

March 27, 2019: 7 – 8:30 p.m. at the Tompkins County Workers’ Center

Learn how to use Freedom of Information laws to unlock troves of government secrets, learn how officials make decisions behind closed doors, and review records that personally affect you, like police reports and environmental property reviews.

Tompkins County

Tuesday, March 5

The Facilities and Infrastructure committee meets at 5 p.m. at 121 E. Court St. to vote on awarding a bid for the Ithaca Tompkins Airport passenger terminal building security expansion. Agenda here.

The Tompkins County Legislature will meet at 5:30 p.m. at 121 E. Court St. On the agenda: The above airport bids, asking the state to amend county law to “permit” the county to “appropriate funds towards the development, maintenance, or management of affordable housing,” and paying out multi-year tourism grants.

Thursday, March 7

At 1:30 p.m., the Tompkins County Government Operations committee meets at 125 E. Court St. Updating administrative policies and updating the flag flying policy are on the agenda.

City of Ithaca

Monday, March 4

The Public Safety & Information commission meets at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 108 E. Green St., on the third floor. There will be a discussion on dogs on the Commons and of the city website.

The Board of Zoning Appeals meets at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 108 E. Green St., on the third floor. Variances for a 4 unit project by INHS at 402 S. Cayuga St., for signs at City Centre, and for Maguire Ford are on the agenda.

Wednesday, February 6

Common Council’s monthly meeting is at 6 p.m. on the third floor of City Hall, 108 E. Green St. On the agenda is taking more steps to acquire the Immaculate Conception gym for GIAC; and adding penalties for landlords that continue to rent buildings that have been declared unsafe by the building department along with requiring them to provide alternative housing until the end of a lease.

Town of Caroline

Tuesday, March 5

The Caroline Town Board meets at 7 p.m. at the Town Hall, 2670 Slaterville Road. Changes to the Town employee handbook are on the agenda.

Thursday, March 7

The Caroline Planning Board meets at 6 p.m. at the Town Hall, 2670 Slaterville Rd.

Town of Danby

Monday, March 4

The Danby Town Board meets at 7 p.m. at the Town Hall, 1830 Danby Rd.

Town of Dryden

Tuesday, March 5

Check with the Dryden Town office at 607-844-8888 to see if there is a Zoning Board of Appeals meeting at 7 p.m. – they are only held if variances are up for question. None is listed on the website. Documents for zoning meetings are here.

Town of Enfield

Wednesday, March 6

A Planning Board meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Enfield Community Building, 182 Enfield Main Road.

Town of Groton

No meetings scheduled.

Town of Ithaca

Tuesday, March 5

The Planning Board meets at 7 p.m. at 215 N. Tioga St. On the agenda: a public hearing on a recommendation to the Town Board about the Chain Works planned development zone. Also, presentation of the site plan for the Cornell North Campus project.

Town of Newfield

Town of Ulysses

Tuesday, March 5

The Planning Board will be meeting at the Village Hall, 10 Elm St., continuing review of a 75-foot tram system to Cayuga Lake, a subdivision of 65 acres on Cold Spring Rd., and a sketch plan for changes at Inn at Taughannock. Agenda here.

Wednesday, March 6

A special Town Board meeting on the zoning update will be held from 4-6 p.m. at the Village Hall, 10 Elm St.

Village of Cayuga Heights

No meetings scheduled.

Village of Dryden

No meetings scheduled.

Village of Freeville

Tuesday, March 5

The Board of Trustees is scheduled to meet at its first Tuesday of the month time at 7:30 p.m.

Village of Groton

Tuesday, March 5

The Board of Trustees is scheduled to meet at its first Tuesday of the month time at 7:30 p.m.

Village of Lansing

Monday, March 4

The Lansing Board of Trustees meets at 7:30 p.m. with changing fire code law for parking garages on the agenda.

Village of Trumansburg

Thursday, March 7

The Board of Trustees meets at the Village Hall, 56 E. Main St., at 7 p.m. Agenda includes a public hearing on changes to the village vehicle & traffic law, and another hearing on property tax cap override.

Dryden Central School District

Monday, March 4

The Dryden Board of Education meets at 7 p.m. at Cassavant Elementary, 32 School St., McLean.

]]>http://www.truthsayers.org/2019/03/04/raise-hell-make-laws-march-4-8-tompkins-county-government-meetings/feed/0March 1-3 $10 and Under Weekend Planner: Music, Dance, Food, Free Happeningshttp://www.truthsayers.org/2019/02/28/march-1-3-10-and-under-weekend-planner-music-dance-food-free-happenings/
http://www.truthsayers.org/2019/02/28/march-1-3-10-and-under-weekend-planner-music-dance-food-free-happenings/#commentsThu, 28 Feb 2019 18:47:18 +0000http://www.truthsayers.org/?p=3393Continue Reading "March 1-3 $10 and Under Weekend Planner: Music, Dance, Food, Free Happenings"→]]>This week: Cat party at the vet school. Mardi Gras parties all about town. Cornell women’s hockey is in the playoffs. Capoeira and Afro-Brazilian music on campus. The Stonecat is open for Wintersquabee, so spring must be coming, right? And more music shows than you can make.

Here’s some happenings in and around Ithaca of the free, low-cost, educational, and musical variety to nourish your mind and spirit this weekend. If there’s a “doors time/music time” listed, we use the music time as the start in our listings.

Save the Date!

March 27, 2019: 7 – 8:30 p.m. at the Tompkins County Workers’ Center

Learn how to use Freedom of Information laws to unlock troves of government secrets, learn how officials make decisions behind closed doors, and review records that personally affect you, like police reports and environmental property reviews.

]]>http://www.truthsayers.org/2019/02/28/march-1-3-10-and-under-weekend-planner-music-dance-food-free-happenings/feed/1Make Laws, Raise Hell: February 25-March 1 Tompkins County Government Happeningshttp://www.truthsayers.org/2019/02/25/make-laws-raise-hell-february-25-march-1-tompkins-county-government-happenings/
http://www.truthsayers.org/2019/02/25/make-laws-raise-hell-february-25-march-1-tompkins-county-government-happenings/#respondMon, 25 Feb 2019 20:19:19 +0000http://www.truthsayers.org/?p=3390Continue Reading "Make Laws, Raise Hell: February 25-March 1 Tompkins County Government Happenings"→]]>This week: Tompkins County is working on a resolution asking the state to permit the county to spend local funds directly on housing development, city planning continues reviewing the Chain Works and Cornell North Campus projects, and Lansing continues to hear about the installation of a private tram to the lakeshore.

Do you want to know what your local government is doing? Do you want to tell your local government to do something else? Here are your opportunities in Tompkins County this week.

If you would like to help TruthSayers cover more issues that matter, if you are at a meeting, be a reporter! Send us recordings, photographs, or notes, and TruthSayers will publish them while crediting you!

Hyperlinks go to the meeting agenda for further information, if available. County meetings are at the top, then the city of Ithaca, then towns in descending alphabetical order by name, then villages in the same arrangement. If we can find a monthly schedule, but no immediate agenda, we try and note that you should contact your local agency to confirm. School board agendas now available, if you scroll all the way down! If you see a meeting missing from this list, email josh.brokaw@truthsayers.org.

Tompkins County

Wednesday, February 27

The Workforce Diversity and Inclusion committee meets at 3:30 p.m. in the Old Jail building, 125 E. Court St. On the agenda is an audit of county facilities for meeting ADA standards.

Thursday, February 28

The Housing and Economic Development committee meets at 9:30 a.m. at 121 E. Court St. A resolution to request the state amend law to “permit Tompkins County to appropriate funds” for development, maintenance, or management of affordable housing is on the agenda.

The Tompkins County Council of Governments meets at 3 p.m. Usually the meeting is at 125 E. Court St., first floor conference room. No agenda yet.

City of Ithaca

Monday, February 25

The Mobility, Accessibility, & Transportation commission meets at 6 p.m. on the third floor of City Hall. On the agenda is a Public Works parking analysis and public input on improving sidewalk snow removal.

Tuesday, February 26

The Planning & Development Board meets at 6 p.m. at City Hall. Chain Works District planning review, North Campus expansion at Cornell, and facade changes at Harold’s Square are on the agenda.

The Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency meets at 8:30 a.m. on the third floor of City Hall. A loan extension for the State Theatre and a Finger Lakes ReUse request to amend a $100,000 grant earmarked for expansion of the Elmira Road facility, to help pay off the upfront cost of the Elmira Rd. property. Agenda here.

Town of Enfield

Town of Groton

Town of Ithaca

The Personnel & Organization committee meets at 3 p.m. to discuss leasing office space to the Health Consortium and update on the post office lease.

The Town Board meets for its “study session” meeting at 4:30 p.m. at the Town Hall, 215 N. Tioga St. A public hearing on a proposed Winthrop Drive water main improvement is on the agenda.

Tuesday, February 26

The Town of Ithaca Public Works committee meets at 9 a.m. at 215 N. Tioga St. Discussion of Forest Home Dr. guiderails and discussing water main project costs are on the agenda.

Town of Lansing

Monday, February 25

The Planning Board meets at 6:30 p.m. at 29 Auburn Rd. to review the application of Dutch Harvest Farm to build a wedding barn event center; holding a public hearing on subdividing 426 Davis Rd. and continuing a hearing on putting a B&B at 59 Emmons Rd.

Town of Newfield

No meetings scheduled.

Town of Ulysses

Tuesday, February 26

The Ulysses Town Board meets at 7 p.m. at the Town Hall, 10 Elm St., with supporting a grant to improve Jacksonville Park and supporting a joint community recreation reserve on the agenda.

Village of Cayuga Heights

Monday, February 25

The Board of Trustees meets at 7 p.m. at Marcham Hall, with regular reports on the agenda.

Thursday, February 28

The Planning Board meets at 7 p.m. at Marcham Hall, with site plan review for 103 Berkshire Rd. and the North Campus residential expansion on the agenda.

Village of Dryden

No meetings scheduled on the website.

Village of Freeville

No meetings scheduled.

Village of Groton

No meetings scheduled.

Village of Lansing

Tuesday, February 26

The Planning Board meets at 7 p.m. at the village office, 2405 N. Triphammer Rd. The agenda includes continued public hearings on building 2 homes on 1510 E. Shore Dr. and on installing a 200-foot tram system, along with development of 35 Cinema Dr. for Maguire Nissan.

Village of Trumansburg

Monday, February 25

The Trumansburg Board of Trustees meets at 6 p.m. at 56 E. Main St., with a budget working session on the special meeting agenda.

]]>http://www.truthsayers.org/2019/02/25/make-laws-raise-hell-february-25-march-1-tompkins-county-government-happenings/feed/0February 22-24 $10 and Under Weekend Planner: Music, Dance, Food, Free Happeningshttp://www.truthsayers.org/2019/02/21/february-22-24-10-and-under-weekend-planner-music-dance-food-free-happenings/
http://www.truthsayers.org/2019/02/21/february-22-24-10-and-under-weekend-planner-music-dance-food-free-happenings/#respondThu, 21 Feb 2019 19:06:27 +0000http://www.truthsayers.org/?p=3384Continue Reading "February 22-24 $10 and Under Weekend Planner: Music, Dance, Food, Free Happenings"→]]>This week: Free tax help! Free name change legal clinic! Knitting circles! Poetry! And yes, there’s music and dancing for those of you who can’t sit still and refuse to do your taxes until the last minute. And there’s a bonfire in Enfield, for those of you who like to keep it hot.

Here’s some happenings in and around Ithaca of the free, low-cost, educational, and musical variety to nourish your mind and spirit this weekend. If there’s a “doors time/music time” listed, we use the music time as the start in our listings.

There’s a reason that TruthSayers calls its weekly Tompkins County government agenda planner “Raise Hell, Make Laws” – it is the position of this news organization that the two activities go well together. Elected officials don’t have to kowtow to orthodox thinking and a status quo mentality, even though they usually do. Every layer of government has an amount of autonomous power; with people interested in thinking long-term about our current problems in those offices, whether they are town board, highway supervisor, or town clerk, we can make changes that will be felt down the road.

Not everything you do in local government is world-changing, of course. Serving in office can change your world, though: as someone who will hear the concerns of your neighbors, you become a better listener, a more knowledgeable person, maybe even a better human being! No, it’s not working for our current president. That doesn’t mean it won’t work for you.

New York State changed its election laws and calendar earlier this year. In 2019, there will be 10 days of early voting before the November 5 election day, starting October 26. The state and local primaries are in late June this year (like the federal primary was in 2018), rather than in September.

What does that mean? If you want to run for office in 2019, you need to start working on it soon.

Candidates planning on running as a member of a party can start circulating petitions on February 26, with an April 4 deadline for turning in the signatures.

If you want to run as a true independent, you can start getting your petitions signed on April 16, and have until May 28 to get all of your signatures.

Below are the available offices this year in Tompkins County. Below that, you can find links to other counties in the region’s Boards of Elections, where you can find information about specific offices and how many signatures you need to reach the ballot in your town, city, or county.

]]>http://www.truthsayers.org/2019/02/19/make-friends-influence-people-run-for-local-office-in-2019/feed/1Raise Hell, Make Laws: February 18-23 Tompkins County Government Happeningshttp://www.truthsayers.org/2019/02/18/raise-hell-make-laws-february-18-23-tompkins-county-government-happenings/
Tue, 19 Feb 2019 00:06:06 +0000http://www.truthsayers.org/?p=3360Continue Reading "Raise Hell, Make Laws: February 18-23 Tompkins County Government Happenings"→]]>This week: Tompkins County is planning on selling off $386,000 in loans that are being paid back by people who took them out for low to moderate income housing, then using the money for airport improvements. The city is considering changing the speed limit – and the Bridge to Nowhere might get some use. And in T-burg, the South Street project is going before the zoning board.

Do you want to know what your local government is doing? Do you want to tell your local government to do something else? Here are your opportunities in Tompkins County this week.

If you would like to help TruthSayers cover more issues that matter, if you are at a meeting, be a reporter! Send us recordings, photographs, or notes, and TruthSayers will publish them while crediting you!

Email josh.brokaw@truthsayers.org with stories and tips.

Let’s put every government action we can on the public record.

Hyperlinks go to the meeting agenda for further information, if available. County meetings are at the top, then the city of Ithaca, then towns in descending alphabetical order by name, then villages in the same arrangement. If we can find a monthly schedule, but no immediate agenda, we try and note that you should contact your local agency to confirm. School board agendas now available, if you scroll all the way down! If you see a meeting missing from this list, email josh.brokaw@truthsayers.org.

Tompkins County

Tuesday, February 19

The Housing and Economic Development committee meets at 4:30 p.m. at 121 E. Court St. The committee is considering selling “Tompkins County’s Community Development Block Grant Loan Portfolio” for $386,000 to INHS, then spending the money on airport improvements because no housing-related activity can be found to support with the funds, they claim. The agenda.

The Tompkins County Legislature meets at 5:30 p.m. at 121 E. Court St. The above block grant sale and funding the state-required position of a Veterans Services director are on the agenda.

Thursday, February 21

The Facilities and Infrastructure committee meets at 1 p.m. at 121 E. Court St., with putting out a request for proposals [RFP] for a Dryden Route 13 traffic study on the agenda.

The Public Safety committee meets at 3:30 p.m. at 121 E. Court St. Regular reports on jail population, supervision, and emergency services are on the agenda.

City of Ithaca

Tuesday, February 19

The Board of Public Works meets at 6 p.m. at City Hall. Discussing changing the city speed limit and allowing the Town of Ithaca to use the “Bridge to Nowhere” for the Gateway trail is on the agenda.

The Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency Economic Development committee meets at 3:30 p.m. at City Hall. A request from Finger Lakes ReUse to spend $100,000 of money on a site instead of expanding the retail building on Elmira Road is on the agenda.

Wednesday, February 20

The Planning and Economic Development committee meets at 6 p.m. at City Hall. Buying the Immaculate Conception gym for GIAC and replacing the Cecil Malone Drive bridge is on the agenda.

Here’s some happenings in and around Ithaca of the free, low-cost, educational, and musical variety to nourish your mind and spirit this weekend. If there’s a “doors time/music time” listed, we use the music time as the start in our listings.